Search results for 'tag:Adverbs tag:Idioms' matching tags 'Adverbs' and 'Idioms'

Re: pretty much perfect

CalifJim — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:45:52 GMT

If you take the point of view that perfect is an 'absolute' (non-gradable) adjective, an adjective of which there can be no degrees -- a point of view being disputed in this thread, but for the sake of argument, let's say we take this viewpoint -- then more perfect is impossible because it expresses a degree of perfection, a quality which, by the original supposition, does not occur in degrees. Given that it is absolute, it is as pointless to talk about more or less perfection as to talk about more or less nothingness, or -- to pick a more famous example -- to talk about some pigs being more equal than others. more perfect, rather perfect, pretty perfect, a little perfect, fairly perfect, very perfect, and somewhat perfect are all "banned" within this viewpoint because all express degrees of perfection.

Nevertheless, it is not contradictory, still remaining within the same point of view, to speak of conditions which are closer to or farther from the absolute (non-gradable) state of perfection. This is not at all the same as talking about different degrees of perfection. In this group we have nearly perfect, almost perfect, far from perfect, very nearly perfect, just about perfect, and pretty much perfect.

pretty is close in meaning to fairly. It belongs in the first ("banned") group because it expresses a degree of a (gradable) quality: pretty good, pretty small, pretty old, pretty shabby

pretty much is close in meaning to just about or almost. It has to be thought of as a two-word idiom not exactly derivable from the meanings of the two words that compose it. It belongs in the second group because it expresses a distance from an (absolute) quality: pretty much finished, pretty much empty, pretty much intact, pretty much equal

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If you take the point of view, on the other hand, that perfect is not an absolute adjective (i.e., is a gradable adjective), then all the adverbs of degree can apply: fairly perfect, very perfect, less perfect, etc. I've never, personally, taken this point of view. In fact, I was told in grade school that the "more perfect union" spoken of in the Constitution should really have been a "more nearly perfect union". Apparently that lesson has stuck with me.

Yet common sense dictates that some expressions which take perfect to be gradable have become standard idioms in English and therefore must be accepted. But I don't think I am alone in saying that pretty perfect is not one of them.

Re: It's an ill wind

EyeSeeYou — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:50:37 GMT

Hi, CalifJim.

Why do you assume if it's "truly" an ill wind? Did this idiom stem from another one? I mena, if you add that adverb there, it makes sense. Otherwise, if I just take the saying as it is, I interpret it as "an ill wind will not blow anybody any good", there's no room for some good things for some people.

I still find it tricky.

Re: line against/along

Avangi — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:23:22 GMT

The prepositions are both fine and natural, but in AmE we'd add a third, so to speak. We use the expression (idiom) "line up" to form a line. I guess BrE is "que." I don't know if it can stand alone, or if it's "que up," or if I'm spelling it correctly.

I wonder if "up'" becomes an adverb in "line up."

Re: can or could

CalifJim — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:22:20 GMT

Liveinjapan
Could anyone tell me the difference between the sentences below?

How do I look?

How do I look like?

What do I look like?

how and like are mutually exclusive. You cannot have both in these sorts of expressions. Once you use how, you must suppress like. So *How do I look like is impossible!

how? and like what? mean almost the same thing when the verb is look. But there are important differences. Note the groupings below.

Susan looks [sad]. *Susan looks [how]? [How] does Susan look?

Susan looks like [a clown]. *Susan looks like [what]? [What] does Susan look like?

Susan looks [like a clown]. *Susan looks [like what]? *Susan looks [how]? [How] does Susan look?

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[How] does Susan look? She looks [sad].

[How] does Susan look? She looks [like a clown].

[What] does Susan look like? She looks like [a clown].

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So How? substitutes for an adverbial expression -- which can be a prepositional phrase "like ..." or a single word adverb or any other appropriate adverbial expression.

And What? (in "like what?") substitutes for a noun -- which can only be the noun that fits after the preposition like.

_________

What makes this difficult if you are imitating the speech of natives is that the missing (fourth) pattern is not quite right logically, but people do use it anyway, treating the combination as an idiom.

[What] does Susan look [like]? She looks [sad].

Re: correct sentences 24/11

Teo — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:09:54 GMT

They won't smoke ever since they saw a film on lung cancer.

What does "won't" mean here?

Re: correct sentences 24/11

Teo — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 06:09:49 GMT

http://forums.eslcafe.com/student/viewtopic.php?t=22113&highlight=

Re: inversion, here

Kooyeen — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:18:47 GMT

Hi,

In #1 "here" is a kind of idiom. It's used to introduce something, draw attention, etc.

In #2 "here" is an adverb of place. It tells you "where" something is.

Re: In particular vs Particularly

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:45:51 GMT

Hi Vu,

I do not use the adverb to start a sentence; and I don't remember seeing its use in that position either. Occasionally, I have seen people start a sentence using the idiom. Here is an example pattern and you can find more on the Internet:

STT designs and manufactures highly specialized components for .... In particular, STT offers products ...

However, I often use the adverb to start a supporting clause as follows:

I often find them sleeping under the bridge at night, particularly when it rains outside. (particularly and especially are synonyms in this context)

Best,
Hoa Thai

Re: In particular vs Particularly

Hoa Thai — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:50:35 GMT

Hi Vu,

They are the same. Particularly is an adverb; in particular is an idiom.

Best,
Hoa Thai

Re: Please explain this

Mister Micawber — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:07:33 GMT

Sorry; I misspoke in my earlier post. Take care of is not a phrasal verb, it is just a verb phrase, a verbal idiom.

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb + particle (adverb, preposition) which behave as a syntactic unit

Make up (= invent) is a phrasal verb, and cannot take an internal adverb: Make up quickly, NOT Make quickly up.
Stand up (= rise) is a verb + adverb, not a phrasal verb, so can take an internal adverb: Stand quickly up.

Take care of (= deal with) is not in any phrasal verb list I can find-- and I can insert an adverb (Take care immediately of). Your adverb test is irrelevant here, I think. Care remains a noun (the object of take), and the noun can be modified with an adjective (e.g. good):

Please take good care immediately of any customers who require assistance.

The final answer is simple enough, though the way to it may be a bit confusing.